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HOUSTON - May 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Harris County 338th District Court has convicted Leslie Ray Collins of Sugar Land of a first-degree felony of misapplication of fiduciary property over the value of $200,000 and sentenced Collins to serve 12 years in prison.

AUSTIN, TX - May 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- State and federal disaster recovery officials have a key message for homeowners, renters and business owners in West, Texas: Complete your U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application — Discarding it could be like throwing away money!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Q: Who should apply for federal disaster assistance? A: Homeowners, renters and business owners in McLennan County and the City of West who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their homes, vehicles, personal property, business or its inventory should register with FEMA for assistance

AUSTIN - April 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) --– The April 17 fire and explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas resulted in fatalities, serious bodily injuries, and widespread property damage. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), working in conjunction with other agencies, will be providing assistance through the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO), its Consumer Protection resources, and the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to assist those affected by the incident.

Dallas, TX - April 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Recently, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson launched her small business series to assist homeless veterans in the Dallas area. The purpose of the series is to inform homeless veterans about the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and provide them with the tools they need to apply for assistance.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) released the following open letter Friday to all gun manufacturers, and owners, persecuted by radical anti-gun legislators in their states:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement. I’m very pleased the City of Dallas will receive $11,750,000 through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- House Bill 2864 protects homeowners by mandating that banks cannot foreclose on a property unless they show proof that the borrowers received the foreclosure notice by certified mail. This bill also requires that the mortgage servicers provide one point of contact for all dealings with consumers, thus reducing communication issues between the mortgage servicers' offices and the borrowers.

Fort Worth, TX - March 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) announced the awarding of over $500,000 federal funds to the Fort Worth Housing Authority (FWHA). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $250,000 in Emergency Capital Funds to FWHA, which will be used to improve the safety and security at Butler Place Public Housing Community. Another $269,856 will go to the Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program that assists families with supportive services

DENTON, TX - March 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners, renters and business owners in the Texas counties of Calhoun, Jackson and Refugio are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions

DALLAS - March 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Patience Lavon Jackson, 50, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 63 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2,801,661.95 in restitution, following her conviction for leading a conspiracy to defraud residential mortgage lenders, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Judge Boyle ordered that Jackson surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 3, 2013.

Austin, TX - February 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, State Representative Dwayne Bohac (Houston) filed a comprehensive tax relief package aimed at cutting the tax burden on Texas homeowners' and businesses. Bohac's tax relief package includes HB 1943 which limits the amount of a homestead appraisal, HB 1946 which will limit the frequency of homestead reappraisals and HB 1945 and HB 1944 which will set the franchise tax exemptions at $2.5 million and $5 million, respectively

Washington, DC - February 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the recently named Chairman of the Tax Reform Working Group on Real Estate, Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) encourages constituents and stakeholders to share their comments about the tax laws affecting real estate. The Tax Reform Working Group on Real Estate is one of eleven bipartisan groups that will review current law as well as identify and compile feedback as part of the committee’s tax reform effort. Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) is serving as Vice-Chairman.

AUSTIN - February 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Van Taylor filed HB 1496, which will amend state law to include a land owner's mineral rights in the definition of private real property. Current law protects only the property rights of surface owners, this bill expands provisions to any action a municipality may take regarding mineral interests.

Washington, D.C. - February 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp of Michigan, today announced the formation of eleven separate Tax Reform Working Groups that will focus on comprehensive tax reform. Republican Congressman Kevin Brady (The Woodlands, TX) was named chairman of the Energy working group.

DENTON, TX - February 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners, renters and business owners in Galveston County, Texas are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing examining the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) role in the mortgage insurance market. As you mentioned, this is the first in a series of hearings. I look forward to holding similar hearings in my Subcommittee. I also look forward to working with Ranking Member Waters and Ranking Member Capuano as we seek to reform FHA and nurse it back to financial health.

AUSTIN - February 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced that Texas, 44 other states and the District of Columbia have concluded an extended, nationwide investigation into Florida-based Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) and its subsidiaries’ unlawful mortgage servicing practices. Under a multistate settlement agreement negotiated by the states, LPS and its subsidiaries must dramatically improve their loan servicing practices, only allow authorized corporate officers to sign foreclosure documents, and pay a $120 million penalty – including approximately $5.76 million for the State of Texas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Al Green (TX-09) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Congressman Mike Michaud (ME-02), reintroduced two bills that would impact homelessness among veterans: H.R. 384, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2013, and H.R. 385, the Housing Assistance for Veterans Act of 2013 (HAVEN Act), in the House of Representatives

Washington, DC - January 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement today concerning President Obama’s sweeping gun proposals which include banning the sale of certain guns and preventing the ability of a homeowner under attack to protect his family from felons who do not heed restrictions on guns or magazines: